Prominent legal practitioner Martin Kpebu has issued a passionate call for a generational shift in Ghana’s political leadership, arguing that the nation is long overdue for younger leaders at the helm.
Speaking on TV3 on Saturday, June 21, Mr Kpebu asserted that Ghana has seen “enough of the old men” in presidential roles and that the time for a youthful takeover has arrived.
Mr Kpebu’s remarks come amidst discussions within the New Patriotic Party (NPP) regarding their flagbearer selection process for the 2028 presidential and parliamentary elections.
He contended that both the ruling National Democratic Congress (NDC) and the NPP should actively seek and back younger candidates to invigorate the political landscape.
“Young people, it’s time for us to take over this country. Enough of the old men,” Mr Kpebu declared, expressing a sentiment shared by a growing segment of the Ghanaian populace, particularly the nation’s significant youth demographic.
According to Ghana Statistical Service data, individuals aged 15-35 years constituted approximately 37% of the total population of Ghana in 2024, underscoring their potential influence in future elections.
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Mr Kpebu criticised the perceived “recycling of ageing political figures” as a hindrance to Ghana’s progress. He specifically took aim at the NPP’s proposed flagbearer election timeline for early 2026, suggesting it smacks of “top-down manipulation”.
He argued that prioritising a flagbearer before internal executive elections at polling stations, constituency, regional, and national levels stifles genuine grassroots participation.
Further, Kpebu challenged the reported internal manoeuvres within the NPP to bolster the candidacy of Vice President Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia.
He described such tactics as efforts to “maintain the status quo” rather than fostering authentic competition.
“When you look at the way the party is pushing Bawumia forward, it signals that they want the grassroots to just play along. It’s a calculated attempt to preserve the system that benefits the elite,” he stated.
Underscoring his push for youthful leadership, Kpebu questioned Dr. Bawumia’s viability as a 2028 candidate, given he would be in his early sixties, and potentially “too old” to lead by 2032. Ghana’s 1992 Constitution requires presidential candidates to be at least 40 years old.
While current and past presidents in Ghana’s Fourth Republic have generally been in their 50s and 60s at the time of assuming office (e.g., John Kufuor was 62, John Atta Mills 64, Nana Akufo-Addo 72), Mr Kpebu argued that newer generations of voters are unlikely to embrace older candidates.
“Who wants a 69-year-old president in 2032? The Gen Z and Gen Alpha voters are not going to rally behind that,” he asserted.
Recent studies, such as the Ghana Youth Barometer 2024 Report, indicate that a significant portion of Ghanaian youth (aged 15-35) feel their voices are “sidelined” in policy decisions, hinting at a desire for more representative leadership.
Kpebu warned that if the NPP were to field Dr. Bawumia again in 2028, it would effectively hand the NDC an “easy win.”
“It would be a walk in the park for the NDC,” he predicted, implying that a youthful appeal might be the decisive factor in the upcoming electoral cycles.
His comments ignite a critical debate about age, experience, and the future direction of Ghana’s political leadership.
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